Claiming that the law violates the
civil rights of clergy and churches because it does not exempt them
from hosting such ceremonies, two Christian churches filed the legal
challenge earlier this week. (The law does exempt clergy from
solemnizing a civil union for any reason.)

The plaintiffs – Emmanuel Temple,
Lighthouse Outreach Center Assembly of God and its pastors – had
asked the court to grant a restraining order to block the start of
the law.

In his 17-page ruling, Seabright said
“it is clear that the present dispute is not ripe for the granting
of a TRO.”